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Electronic Arts taps Andrew Wilson as next CEO

Brett Molina, USA TODAY
5:17 p.m. EDT September 17, 2013

Andrew Wilson, Executive Vice President at EA Sports, unveils a new lineup of EA Sports game coming to Xbox One during the console's reveal event in May.(Photo: Stephen Brashear, Invision for Microsoft/AP)

Electronic Arts says Andrew Wilson, who has helmed the video game publisher's sports division, will take over as its next CEO.

Wilson has been with EA since 2000, working as an executive producer of the company's FIFA video game series, and as an executive vice president managing the company's digital goods service Origin.

"Andrew is the first studio executive to serve as our CEO, a testament to his blend of creative skills and business acumen," says Larry Probst, the company's executive chairman, in a statement. "He is a compelling and charismatic communicator who cares deeply about organizational development, teams, and the individual careers of people who work for EA."

Shares of Electronic Arts closed at $27.60, up 2.3%.

Wilson replaces John Riccitiello, who stepped down in May as the video game publisher navigates significant industry changes. Probst had been handling CEO duties in the interim, and will stay on as executive chairman during Wilson's transition.

"I am deeply honored and humbled to become EA's CEO," says Wilson in a note posted to EA's official blog. "I have a profound respect and passion for this organization, as well as for our global community of fans, and I'm incredibly motivated to serve our people, our gamers and our shareholders at such an exciting time in our industry."

Prior to the CEO role, Wilson was leading EA Sports, the division responsible for sports franchises such as Madden NFL and FIFA. During his tenure, EA Sports acquired rights to produce UFC fighting games from defunct publisher THQ.

EA joins other publishers in awaiting the arrival of new hardware. This November, Microsoft and Sony both launch the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 consoles.

Along with the EA Sports lineup, the company also publishes racing series Need For Speed and first-person shooter Battlefield, both of which will appear on Xbox One and PS4.

Wilson says he will focus on continuing EA's transition to more digital titles launched on multiple platforms, including consoles, PCs and mobile devices.

"Our focus on our talent, our brands and our platform together with our investment in next-generation consoles, mobile and PC free-to-play, as part of our ongoing transition to digital, is right," says Wilson. "But we have plenty of work ahead to ensure our collective success."